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Putting Differences Aside at Media Day

At first glance this year’s Media Day was no different than the last for the Boston Celtics. Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett, and Ray Allen sat at the podium and addressed a swarming herd of microphones and cameras in their training facility in Waltham. They talked about expectations, playing for a title, and the importance of staying hungry. The trio agreed there was a target on their backs.

But then something different happened.

As Pierce and Allen answered questions, Garnett zoned out. He slowly turned his head and followed the championship banners around the gym. Then he stopped. Unlike last year, today there was a 17th banner proudly displayed in the building.

Soon the differences became more obvious.

Last season Pierce, Allen, and Garnett were giddy with the prospect of playing for a legitimate contender. After one disappointing year after another, the trio finally had a real shot to capture the trophy. This season the Big Three was all business when it came to the reality of what it takes to win it all … again. It wasn’t easy last postseason and the new-look Eastern Conference will pose challenges this year.

“You don’t get to a level and take steps backwards,” Garnett said.

Last season Rajon Rondo and Kendrick Perkins were fish out of water starting alongside three All-Stars. Both players had spent their careers playing for a failed youth movement and neither had proven anything yet. This season the 20-somethings are just as instrumental to the team as any veteran. It is obvious that they embraced the focus and determination of their older teammates.

“It’s going to be tough for a third-year starting point guard. He doesn’t know much and he’s kind of inexperienced,” Rondo joked at his short career before turning serious. “I’m mature now. Each year as you get older you get more mature as a young person. I’m just learning a lot and I expect to get better this year.”

Last season veterans Eddie House, James Posey, and Scot Pollard came prepared to offer leadership and insight to the handful of young players. They were signed to fill in for the starters without missing a beat. This season relative unknowns like Patrick O’Bryant, J.R. Giddens, and Bill Walker came eager to impress the championship-winners. Some of them have barely talked to their teammates, let alone figured out how to replace them off the bench.

“My first meeting [with KG] I saw him from afar,” first round draft pick Giddens said. “I tried not to look over in that direction. It’s like seeing that pretty girl you like. You know where she’s at in the room at all times.”

This season’s differences aside, there something about the Celtics that stays constant over the years.

“I feel like once you get a taste of it, you don’t want to let it go,” Pierce said of winning a championship.

Greg and Chris talk with Mike Reiss from ESPN Boston in hour 2 of NFL Sunday to discuss a variety of offseason happenings with the Pats and throughout the league. Greg and Chris also get into the NFL Draft and where Mariota and Winston will go.

Mike Reiss calls the guys to talk about the offseason news for the Pats. He talks about the Pats/Jets tampoering fiasco, free agency, where he sees Ridley and Connolly ending up, if the Patriots would be interested in Reggie Wayne and more.

In the first hour of the show, Greg and Chris discuss the news coming out of the owners' meetings this week and rule changes. Belichick's blow-up over the league not wanting to spend on endzone cameras was well documented and the guys react. They also talk about the Jets ridiculous tampering charges, free agents still lingering out there, where Stevan Ridley will land and the RB position in New England. Dickerson and Price briefly discuss the adventures of Tom Brady before being joined by WEEI.com's Mike Petraglia to talk all things Pats in the offseason.

Flannery joins Mut to break down the Isaiah Thomas trade to Boston and what it means for the Celtics this season and in the future. Paul also chats with Mut about the other deals that happened at the NBA's trading deadline

Mut, Tomase, and Bradford kick things off talking about Shane Victorino taking offense to people reading into some comments he made about trading for Cole Hamels. They also discuss Blake Swihart and how soon he could be up if Christian Vazquez starts the season on the DL.

Joe Kelly joined the Hot Stove show where he talked about being ready for his next spring training start after a biceps ailment forced him out of his last outing, he talks about his NCAA brackets and how teammate Wade Miley has a perfect bracket still.

Peter Chiarelli joined the Sunday Skate crew to talk about the Bruins playoff push heading into the final handful of games of the regular season. Chiarelli talked about avoiding some of the overly negative feedback he gets while realizing that the team does have real issues. He discusses what went down at the trade deadline and if he was happy with the outcome, Lucic having a down year and underperforming, the salary cap and if he considers it as big of an issue as it's been made out to be and what the future holds for the team.

It's a big hour #2 for the Sunday Skate dudes - they talk about the B's defenseman and what the future looks like at that position, with both moves the team can make and younger guys in the AHL. They also get into the Bruins philosophy on bringing guys up and sending them back down and how players deal with that. Finally, the boys are joined by Bruins GM Peter Chiarelli to discuss EVERYTHING.

The Sunday Skate crew gets the show going discussing the Bruins big, impressive victory over the NY Rangers yesterday. What can you take from that game? According to LB - Lyndon Byers - who called the guys from the road, not a lot. LB drops a dime on what was going on with the Rangers yesterday. DJ and Joe discuss Claude's lines and groupings and the importance of Ryan Spooner. They also get into Lucic, his contributions this year and if he can turn things around.

With early season injuries sidelining Christian Vasquez and Koji Uehara, and Clay Buchholz being named the Opening Day starter, Lou becomes a little apprehensive about his 90 win prediction for this year's Red Sox team.